A substitute driver has not been announced yet https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/153866/hamilton-to-miss-sakhir-gp-after-positive-covid19-test
? Russell has already tested the Mercedes in the past. Has there ever been a driver who is currently racing for another team to substitute elsewhere? Teams either have back up drivers or get some some outside who's not currently racing.
Well surely anyone can win in Lewis's car .... it's a dream ticket for someone, hopefully it's Russel but I doubt it. Will be interesting to see by what assumed margin Bottas beats whoever.
Fisichella became a Ferrari driver halfway through 2009. Although, circumstances were very different with Massa being out the rest of the season rather than for just one race. All the best, Andrew.
Get well soon and take off the next couple of weeks Lewis Incredible that only COVID could stop him winning when no one else could.
Nico is the right substitute. He has Clone Mercedes experience. Russell is contract to Williams. Not easy to release him but is possible if Williams agree and have a driver to replace they like or is capable.. Vandoorne is the actual reserve and least capable due to lack of F1 racing this year. GO NICO!
Well, at the beginning of the season I speculated whether Covid would have an influence on the WDC if somebody like Lewis or Bottas or Max would get it. Didn't have an impact now that it has been all decided. Still, close enough shot.
Reserve is Strudel van doom and test driver Esteban who lost his super licence (unless he has done 300KM of testing recently) so expect the Belgian unless they can pay Williams enough to free up George R..or the Hulk wow that would be something!
Agree. Mercedes optioned Nico in case Hamilton didn't join. Nico would now be a multi WDC had Hamilton stayed at McLaren It would have been Nico Vs Nico
Vandoorne is the reserve driver for Mercedes so he should get first dibs. IF not Vandoorne, Hulk is the 2nd option.
I would not place Vandoorne. He has no chance of coming back to F1???? Not aware of his potential to return. Nico would be my choice for now. It makes sense to use Vandoorne but I dont see the benefit in terms of maximizing points etc. The big story for our race weekend lol Wow!
It would be great for Hulkenberg to get the seat and finally score his F1 podium--a real Cinderella story.
Sure can but not with 0 experience or long layoff. See Luca badoer when he replaced massa in a capable to win Ferrari back then! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I heard Hakkinen is getting the ride. The team is just struggling with where to place the ashtray in the cockpit.
Lewis can technically return for Abu Dhabi as that country only requires 10 days of isolation, but Merc/Liberty might have additional rules. A reminder that Vando was also the reserve driver for Racing Stroll this year so while flying to Bahrain is a good sign, if the seat was guaranteed surely they would have told him before leaving. The only issue I see with Hulk is if he has been in discussions with RBR to replace Albon next year, Toto wouldn't be too keen on giving him a drive. I doubt Williams would be keen on releasing Russell with championship points still up for grabs, well at least during the Claire era it wouldn't have happened. A driver swap with Vando seems unlikely but maybe that's why he is flying to Bahrain Maybe if they threw in Hulk and/or Alonso to sweeten the deal they would release him
Well they are not going to put a driver in with zip nada zero experience are they! So sure can, means you think it's all just about the car then ?, and it will be a Merc 1-2 irrespective of who's driving. BTW You will have to make do with me occasionally pecking your head, until William has done his time
